Time To Stock Up On Bandages: The Vegetarian Festival Is Almost Here!

Phuket’s “bloodiest” and noisiest festival is right around the corner. The 2013 Phuket Vegetarian Festival will run from around 4PM (16:00) the afternoon of 4 October and will end with the lowering of the lantern poles during the afternoon of the 14th. My favorite part of the nine days is the last full night (the 13th this year) when a multitude of processions snake their way through the Old Town streets on their way to expel the emperor gods into the sea. These all converge on Surin Circle and it feels similar to being in a six-hour-long Damascus firefight!

This year, I’d like to attend even more of the morning processions and perhaps see a few of the (very) early morning piercings. I have yet to see any of the bladed-ladder climbing but did attend the burning-coals firewalk one year. And I’m going to try a non-meat diet for the full nine days. I’m currently stockpiling cans of kernel-corn and plan to buy fresh fruit each day. But I won’t be wearing the white pajamas around town as I believe us farangslook ludicrous if not hypocritical trying to “blend in” this way.

As always, check out Jamie Monk’s excellent blog for the most complete schedules of the various events as well as his excellent photography. (Deep bows to the Master from humble Asian Meanderings…)

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